Back in February, I reviewed the The SurfacePad from Twelve South and called it the “Best iPhone Case Ever.” And had it stayed pristine and continued working like it did for the first few weeks, that would be it.

But it didn’t. The lovely, minimalist leather cover certainly kept working, but while it might be a great design for something like an iPad, for an iPhone – which is constantly being shoved in and out of pockets – it’s just too fragile. That, and it sucks for taking photos.

The Good

Old vs. New.

The SurfacePad is a slim slip of leather which adheres to the back of your naked iPhone, and wraps around the side and front. It’s a little like a Smart Cover, only without the magnets. It even doubles as a handy-dandy stand for propping the iPhone up in landscape mode, useful for top-of-the-fridge based activities, as well as the mythical movies-on-a-phone scenario.

As designed, the SurfacePro is fantastic.

As designed, the SurfacePro is fantastic. The thing is so light and slim that it’s even good for case-haters like me. There’s a cutout for the camera, the microsuede interior keeps the screen clean and the case just looks classy. You can even control the volume through the case when it’s closed: the buttons’ positions are marked with neat little embossed plus and minus symbols.

If you only use the case for a week or two, you’ll be happy. However…

The Bad

The SurfacePad just isn’t built to withstand the rigors of the modern-day jeans pocket. I keep my iPhone in the front-left pocket of my pants, screen facing in. It sits here whenever I am clothed and not using the phone, and so I probably pull it out many tens of times in a day. This action (admittedly I wear some pretty tight and skinny jeans) quickly causes the edges of the case to fray and split. The front cover is made up of two parts with a hard plastic plate sandwiched between them. This plate is yellow. How do I know? Because the edges of the cover are glued, not stitched, and came apart shortly after my initial review.

And it’s not just me: Several readers wrote me to tell me that their SurfacePads had done the same thing.

You can glue them back together with superglue (which works fine, although I managed to get a lump of something in there) but then an different section will become detached.

And it’s not just me. Several readers wrote me to tell me that their SurfacePads had done the same thing.

It’s a shame, but I’ll be tossing this case into the recycling bin. They do recycle old cow, don’t they?

You could just keep gluing until all sides have been resealed, but that wouldn’t help with the sag. When new, the front cover doesn’t quite lay flat when closed. This soon settles in as the leather becomes more supple at the spine. But this deterioration continues until the spine-side edge of the front cover starts to detach internally and creates a bubble of leather that sticks up whether the case is open or closed. Yes, gluing might fix this too, but unlike the edges, which present their internals for you to slather with superglue, to get to this bubble you’ll have to cut your way in.

Possibly deliberately, or possibly because of crossed lines, I received a second review unit a few days after the problems started to appear. Maybe a second try would yield better results? But I couldn’t bring myself to mount it up, first because of the readers’ mails which had already confirmed that I wasn’t isolated in my experience, but also because of one really annoying design aspect of the SurfacePad.

It makes it really hard to take pictures.

This is true of any book-like case: opening the case and folding it back will cover the lens. The choices are to let the flap hang, or to just try to shove it out of the way. The problem here is that I use the iPhone camera with the volume buttons on the top, so I can use them to snap pictures with my right index finger, just like on a real camera. And in this orientation, the cover either needs to be propped up like a sunshade for the screen with my thumb (tricky) or left to dangle, hopefully out of site of the lens.

The Verdict

So now I’m back to a naked iPhone, or an iPhone with a transparent plastic bumper case. I loved the SurfacePad, but it turned out to be less of a lifelong romance and more like a summer fling, lasting just a few beautiful weeks before the magic wore off and I saw the puffed, leathery face for what it was (yes, I should probably pick younger women for my affairs, but what can I say? I love me some GILFs).

Should you buy it? If you’re after an everyday case that will withstand the rigors of all-day pocketing and de-pocketing, then no. No way. If you keep the iPhone in a purse or jacket pocket then you should read my original review, which still stands (apart from the whole longevity thing, of course).

Product Name: : SurfacePadThe Good: Looks great, lightweight, protects.The Bad: Wears out and breaks in weeks. Makes camera hard to use.The Verdict Avoid, unless you don’t take photos with your iPhone, and you never put it in your pocket.

[rating=poor]

About the author:

Charlie Sorrel is the Reviews Editor here on Cult of Mac. Follow Charlie on Twitter at @mistercharlie.

Eddyjrsf

Interesting… I bought the case based on COM’s original recommendation. I received it on 2/18 and it’s in perfect condition. It’s usually in my jacket pocket or backpack and occasionally in my pant’s pocket on the weekends. As far as pics and video. It took a while but I learned if I placed both index fingers in between the small flap and phone on side where it’s adhered I can take great landscape pics and even better video with less shake since sturdier grip. The flap has allowed me to hold the iPhone even higher above heads at concerts. I took great video at Paul Banks show as well at the recent Sigur Ros show and if Prince doesn’t have a bodyguard snatch away from me, will do the same next week at his club concert. Also, believe your original review was in early Feb. and you now state the case only lasts a two weeks but it’s now mid April that your declaring it a horrible buy! Maybe it’s just a horrible case for skinny jeans wearers who walk all day ;-)

Derek Schlicker

This same thing happened to mine after about a week of normal use. I complained to TwelveSouth who replaced the case at no cost to me (I kept the original although it was quickly becoming useless). I got the one in the mail but it wasn’t as compelling after the wear and tear and my fiance didn’t want it, so I put the new one up on CL and recovered $20 off the cost. Back to the clear plastic case for me!

figaro331

You see, Charlie, you’ve recommended this case as“Best iPhone Case Ever” in February and now you are saying :”No way” ! Conclusion – you credibility as Cult Of Mac contributor is 0(zero) or even (-5 minus 5) because you’ve recommended something without even testing to all readers of this website !!!Shame on you !!!

kidpub

I received mine as a Valentine’s Day gift this year. It’s in my jeans pocket every day, pulled out at least twenty or thirty time a day, and it looks just like new. I don’t take that many pictures, but I have no issue doing so. Love it.

Andrew Newsome

You see, Charlie, you’ve recommended this case as“Best iPhone Case Ever” in February and now you are saying :”No way” ! Conclusion – you credibility as Cult Of Mac contributor is 0(zero) or even (-5 minus 5) because you’ve recommended something without even testing to all readers of this website !!!Shame on you !!!

You can’t really expect the writers to test every product for 2-3 months before they review.

figaro331

You see, Charlie, you’ve recommended this case as“Best iPhone Case Ever” in February and now you are saying :”No way” ! Conclusion – you credibility as Cult Of Mac contributor is 0(zero) or even (-5 minus 5) because you’ve recommended something without even testing to all readers of this website !!!Shame on you !!!

You can’t really expect the writers to test every product for 2-3 months before they review.

If you are unable to test the product – do not recommend it !!! It’s simple as that!!!Just use your common sense, dah !

simplejack

I really liked this leather case too, initially, but like most of these cases made by bigger companies, they can let you down too often.. I started making my own cases for the iPhone 5 and selling them on etsy. I’ve been using mine for over 6 months and it’s still in pretty good condition, I’d be interested to hear any CoM user thoughts on it…. Etsy.com/shop/simplejack